Device and procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves

ABSTRACT

The device for cooking a food product with microwaves, comprises a container ( 2 ) for the food product to be cooked in a liquid and means ( 7 ) for displacing the food product in the liquid inside the container. The container and the displacement means are made from material suitable for being used in the presence of microwaves. The procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves consists of putting the food product in a liquid possibly adding other ingredients, of setting the microwave cooking time in the liquid and of mixing the food product.

[0001] The present invention refers to a device and a procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves.

[0002] As is known, current microwave ovens have a rotary plate in the cooking chamber to make the cooking of the food product homogeneous.

[0003] In order to further improve the cooking of the food product some ovens are also equipped with electrical resistances which operate in combination with the microwaves

[0004] Currently, therefore, microwaves are capable of effectively cooking almost all food products commonly in use in a totally equivalent way to traditional cooking in an electric or gas oven

[0005] However, none of the current microwave ovens is capable of cooking food products which are normally cooked in liquids, such as pasta, polenta, etc., or chocolate and any type of deep-fat frying.

[0006] In other words these microwaves, even the most sophisticated and expensive, are not able to cook food products which normally are cooked with a pan placed upon a hob in a traditional gas cooker.

[0007] In the case of rice, in some countries so-called “rice-cookers” are known and used to cook rice and to keep it hot for it then to be seasoned or served as an accompaniment for other food.

[0008] The technical task proposed of the present invention is, therefore, that of eliminating the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, realising a device and a procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves which allow microwave ovens to be rendered suitable for cooking any food product which currently is cooked in an oven and/or on the hob.

[0009] In this technical task a purpose of the present invention is that of realising a device and a procedure for cooking a food product in liquid with microwaves, be it water, milk, oil or other for cooking pasta, rice, fruit, cream and the like.

[0010] A further purpose of the invention is that of realising a device and a procedure which allow any food product in a liquid to be cooked in an optimal, if not actually better, manner with respect to traditional cooking.

[0011] Also a purpose of the invention is that of realising a device and a procedure which allow flexibility of delivery of microwaves since they can be dosed and delivered in any way according to the type of food product to be cooked, the amount thereof and the state of the liquid. For example, it could be hot or cold water.

[0012] The last but not least purpose of the invention is that of realising a device and a procedure which ease the cooking in any liquid of any food product, since the user enters an easily measured amount of liquid into the container and, having inputted the time required by the conventional system and the initial state of the liquid (hot or cold), the cooking requires no manual intervention.

[0013] The technical task, as well as these and other purposes, according to the present invention, are achieved by realising a device for cooking a food product with microwaves, characterised in that it comprises a container for the food product to be cooked in a liquid and means for displacing said food product in said liquid inside said container, said container and said displacement means being made from material suitable for being used in the presence of microwaves.

[0014] The present invention also refers to a procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves, characterised in that it consists of putting said food product in a liquid possibly adding other ingredients, of setting the microwave cooking time in said liquid and of mixing said food product.

[0015] Other characteristics of the present invention are, moreover, described in the other claims.

[0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention shall become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device and a procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves according to the finding, where the device is illustrated for indicating and not limiting purposes in the attached drawings, wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the device according to the finding;

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the device associated with a base portion of a microwave oven;

[0019]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a preferred solution of the arrangement of handles for moving the device;

[0020]FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view of the connection shaft according to a preferred embodiment.

[0021] With reference to the quoted figures, a device for cooking a food product with microwaves, wholly indicated with reference numeral 1, is shown.

[0022] The device 1 comprises a container 2 for the food product to be cooked and means for displacing the food product inside the container, wholly indicated with reference numeral 3.

[0023] In an appropriate manner, the container 2 and the displacement means 3 are made from a material suitable for being used in the presence of microwaves.

[0024] The container is equipped with markings, notches, ridges or other elements used to identify the liquid levels for the various amounts of product to be cooked, thus easing the user in the preparation step for cooking. Such markings or elements representing the levels are visualised by the control system on the display in the step of setting the cooking time, since this is necessary data for automatic control to determine the cooking procedure.

[0025] Moreover, the device 1 comprises a cover 4 for closing the container 2, also made from material suitable for being used in the presence of microwaves and, preferably, made from the same material as the container 2.

[0026] The cover 4 has a plurality of holes 5 smaller in size than the food product to be cooked, arranged on the cover 4 in a greater number towards the container 2 and in a lesser number on the side opposite said container 2.

[0027] The holes allow the water to be drained in the case of the cooking of pasta or the like.

[0028] The orientation of the holes is at 90 angular degrees with respect to the handles: this provision allows the leftover water to be drained, thus preventing the users hands from being scolded by the usual column of boiling steam.

[0029] On the cover a further opening, not represented, is also formed, facing towards the user, which allows him to check how much the food is cooked.

[0030] Both types of opening, i.e. the small holes and the big one, can be equipped with a closing partition (or diaphragm, or cover), fixed so as to be able to be opened or lifted manually, for the generation of steam inside the container or when the container itself is tilted to drain the water at the end of cooking. In such a way, a faster increase in the temperature of the water is obtained, and still the formation and release of foam during cooking reduces, since the raising of the partition increases the heat exchange between boiling water and the air around it, and the evaporation is made easier.

[0031] Moreover, the cover 4 and the container 2 comprise connection means 6 for them to be joined together.

[0032] In a preferred solution, the displacement means 3 comprises at least one mixing member 7 housed inside the container 2 and at least one drive member 8 to activate the mixing member 7 and/or the container 2, in this case keeping the mixing member still (in an alternative embodiment).

[0033] In a first embodiment, shown in the attached figures, the drive member 8 is housed in the base 9 of the cooking area of a microwave oven and has an operation which is dependent upon the oven.

[0034] In this case, the drive member 8 is the same one which makes the plate of the microwave oven rotate; preferably (as shown in the attached figures) the plate is removed to house the device according to the finding.

[0035] In particular, in such an embodiment, the container 2 has a central tubular element 10, inside which develops a connection shaft 11 between the drive member 8 of the oven and the mixing member 7.

[0036] In a preferred construction which can be seen in FIG. 5, the connection shaft 11 can consist of at least three parts: an upper joint 22, a central portion 23 and a lower member 24 for fitting to the drive member 8.

[0037] In order to ease the coupling between the fitting member 24 and the drive member 8 (the coupling can indeed be difficult since the user cannot see if the connection shaft has engaged correctly in the tabs for driving the drive member: this is due to the special construction of the container, equipped with a central tubular element 10 which hides the attachment of the drive member 8 from the user), the connection shaft 11 can have elastic elements 25 for compensating the clearance which exists until the fitting member 24 engages regularly in the drive member 8.

[0038] The elastic elements can be made from material suitable for being used in the presence of microwaves or else can consist of a metallic spring in this case the central portion 23 shall also be metallic so as to offer suitable screening of the elastic element with respect to the microwave energy (indeed, due to the special shape, no flush spring can be used in the presence of microwaves without causing overheating or electrical discharges).

[0039] The mixing member 7 is preferably removable and has a configuration and a structure according to the type of food product to be cooked.

[0040] For the above, in a preferred embodiment, at least one portion of the mixing member 7 is elastically yielding.

[0041] The container 2 has ribs 12 suitable for cooperating with the mixing member 7, to mix the food product.

[0042] The ribs can just be present on the wall of the container or else also on the tubular element.

[0043] The container 2 also has anti-rotation elements 13 to prevent its rotation about its axis during operation.

[0044] Moreover, the container 2 also has marker elements 20, such as notches, for the correct dosage of the ingredients for cooking the food product, be it pasta, rice, polenta, custard or other.

[0045] The container 2 and the cover 4 preferably have at least one handle and in particular two handles 14.

[0046] The handles 14 are positioned so as to make it easy for the user to grip them and so as to avoid the risk of scolding in the case of contact with the hot walls of the cooking space: once the device is positioned in the oven, the handles shall be in front of the user, conveniently facing towards the door and far from the side walls.

[0047] In a constructive variant, in the case in which the microwave oven does not have a rotary plate and, therefore, is without the motor 8, the container 2 foresees the possibility of receiving a motor totally made from material compatible with microwaves of the manual loading removable type.

[0048] In this case the autonomy of the motor would be limited to the cooking of the food product.

[0049] The present invention also refers to a procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves.

[0050] The procedure consists of placing the food product in a liquid possibly adding other ingredients, setting the microwave cooking time in the liquid and mixing the food product.

[0051] More precisely, the microwave oven can be equipped with devices for controlling the delivery of microwaves and with the mixing member 7, operating according to the information set by the user.

[0052] For example, in the case of cooking pasta, the user can set the level of the water inserted in the device and the time shown on the packaging: the control devices shall take care of precisely determining the duration of the delivery of microwaves and the mixing functions, so as not to ruin (with too vigorous mechanical action on a load which is still hard) or overcook the pasta.

[0053] It must be noted that the control device, the use of which in microwave ovens is already known, in this case constitutes an exclusive integrated cooking management system for food by immersion in liquid and microwave heating (like, for example, pasta).

[0054] Preferably, the step of mixing the product happens at the same time as or after the cooking with microwaves according to the type of food product.

[0055] Moreover, the delivery of microwaves during the cooking of the food product can be adjusted according to the amount of liquid, the product and their starting condition, in a continuous or cyclical manner.

[0056] In this case, for example, the container 2 can validly replace a conventional rice-cooker.

[0057] In practice, when for example pasta is cooked, cold or hot water, salt and raw pasta are inserted into the container 2 in the determined doses.

[0058] The container 2, with the cover 4 closed, is inserted into the oven and then the magnetron is activated for a predetermined time to carry out the cooking.

[0059] In this way the raw pasta shall be subjected to two combined and simultaneous heating actions: the heating offered by radiation of microwaves (which act directly on the pasta) and the heating offered by conduction of the water in which the pasta is immersed.

[0060] The cooking of the pasta thus begins immediately, allowing the total cooking time to be reduced: indeed, it is not necessary to wait the rise in temperature of the water up to boiling as takes place in conventional cooking.

[0061] During cooking the mixing member 7 mixes the food product and guarantees its optimal and uniform cooking.

[0062] Moreover, the mixing action can avoid the food, like for example pasta, from clumping together and sticking.

[0063] In practice, it has been noted how the device and a procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves according to the invention are particularly advantageous because they allow various types of food products to be cooked in an optimal manner.

[0064] For example, the device and procedure according to the invention allow pasta and boiled food, polenta, chocolate, rice, etc.

[0065] Moreover, it is possible to equip the container with mechanical elements or other types of elements, suitable for actuating a separate element, forming part of the oven, which is connected with the control part of the apparatus, and which is capable of indicating the presence of the accessory in the cooking area of the oven itself. Such elements, in a preferred but not exclusive solution, can be projections, protuberances or particular profiles of the surface (e.g. the side and the base, indicated in FIG. 2 with reference numeral 13) of the container (identified in FIG. 2 with reference numeral 2) which are suitable for actuating leverages, buttons, switches or any other sensor which transmits the information on the presence of the container to the oven control system. Another embodiment foresees the use of electronic, optical, piezoelectric or magnetic sensors, always with the function of detecting the introduction of the container object of the present patent in the cooking area of the oven. The function of the system for detecting the presence of the container can be multiple: a specific program for the operation of the oven, e.g. the microwave cooking with determined power, is activated; the activation of the conventional heating elements, which could damage the container and its internal components (mixing system) is prevented; a heat supervision system of all of the apparatus is activated to avoid overheating or fire in the case of improper use of the cooking accessory. The described functions are examples, they can be implemented individually or together, and the list mentioned does not exclude the possibility of use of the possible system for detecting the presence of the accessory.

[0066] The device and procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves thus conceived are susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all covered by the inventive concept; moreover, all of the details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

[0067] In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements and the state of the art. 

1. Device for cooking a food product with microwaves, characterised in that it comprises a container for the food product to be cooked in a liquid and means for displacing said food product in said liquid inside said container, said container and said displacement means being made from material suitable for being used in the presence of microwaves.
 2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a cover for closing said container made from the same material as it, said cover having a plurality of holes smaller in size than said food product.
 3. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said holes are arranged on said cover in a greater number towards said container and in a lesser number on the side opposite said container, and in that said cover and said container comprise connection means to join them together.
 4. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said displacement means comprises at least one mixing member housed inside said container and at least one drive member to activate said mixing member and/or said container.
 5. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said drive member is housed in the base of the cooking area of a microwave oven and has an operation which depends upon said oven.
 6. Device according to one or more or the previous claims, characterised in that said drive member is directly associated with said container and has an operation which is autonomous from said oven.
 7. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said container comprises a central tubular element inside which develops a connection shaft between said drive member of said oven and said mixing member.
 8. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said mixing member is removable and has a configuration according to the type of food product to be cooked.
 9. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one portion of said mixing member is elastically yielding.
 10. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said container has at least one rib suitable for cooperating with said mixing member to mix said food product.
 11. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said container has an anti-rotation element, to prevent it from rotating about its axis.
 12. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said container has elements for indicating thy correct dosage of liquid to cook said food product in said liquid.
 13. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said container and said cover respectively have at least one handle.
 14. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises two handles arranged on the opposite side to said holes and close together to allow both its removal and insertion from said cooking area of said oven, and the draining of said food product.
 15. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said connection shaft has an upper joint, a central portion and a lower portion for adapting to said drive member, said central portion having elastic elements to compensate for the clearance which exists before said fitting member is engaged with said drive member.
 16. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said elastic elements comprise a metallic spring and in that said central portion is also metallic.
 17. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said container or said cover is of a shape such as to actuate a system for detecting the presence of the container inside the cooking area of the oven, or else in turn incorporates components or devices suitable for implementing said detection function, said detection system being of the mechanical, optical, electric, electromechanical, electronic, magnetic or piezoelectric type or it can use the Hall effect, with another proximity sensor or any other type of system which is suitable for carrying out the desired function.
 18. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said system for detecting the presence of the cooking device inside the cooking area of the oven prevents the actuation of one or more heating elements of the oven so as to avoid the device itself from being damaged, e.g. due to excessive temperature.
 19. Device according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said system for detecting the presence of the cooking device automatically prepares the system for controlling the oven for activating the cooking programmes relative to the food product to be cooked with said device.
 20. Procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves, characterised in that it consists of putting said food product in a liquid possibly adding other ingredients, of setting the microwave cooking time in said liquid and of mixing said food product.
 21. Procedure according to the previous claim, characterised in that the step of mixing said product is simultaneous or delayed with respect to the cooking with microwaves according to the type of said food product.
 22. Procedure according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said delivery of microwaves during the cooking of said food product is adjusted according to the type of said food product or else the starting temperature of the water and its level in the container.
 23. Device and procedure for cooking a food product with microwaves, all as described and claimed. 